Why Does Under-Eye Fat Recur? If You Know Just Three Things, You Can Succeed With Under-Eye Fat Repositioning!

Why does under-eye fat recur?

If you know just three things, you can succeed with under-eye fat repositioning!

Hello, this is Objet Plastic Surgery.

Many people tell us they are worried about the bulging fat under their eyes. They also say that because the bulging fat casts a shadow under the eyes, their dark circles look more pronounced and their impression seems dull.

That is why many people come to Objet to address under-eye fat.

When we consult with patients who visit the clinic, some people think under-eye fat repositioning and under-eye fat removal are the same surgery. So they may think that under-eye fat removal alone is enough.

But if you have surgery that way, it can become a reason for under-eye fat recurrence, so caution is needed.

Under-eye fat repositioning can recur even after surgery, and if it does, you may need revision surgery, so there are important things you should check.

I will explain step by step the three important points you need to check before under-eye fat repositioning.

Is under-eye fat repositioning the same surgery as under-eye fat removal?

Many people really think under-eye fat repositioning and under-eye fat removal are the same surgery. Since both procedures aim to solve the bulging fat under the eyes, you may think their goals are similar.

In some cases, people go in for under-eye fat repositioning but only have the fat removed. After the procedure, as the swelling goes down, the area around the under-eye may look sunken, or they may feel that the under-eye fat has become bulgy again and recurred quickly.

Under-eye fat repositioning is not a surgery that simply removes fat.

The key to under-eye fat repositioning is creating a smooth line from the under-eye area to the cheekbone area. Of course, some of the remaining fat may be removed after repositioning, but the difference is that it does not only remove fat; it also fills in sunken areas and removes bulging areas to make the under-eye area flatter.

In addition, under-eye fat repositioning has one more difference from under-eye fat removal besides repositioning the fat: it also strengthens the septum.

Under the eyes there is a fat pouch called the orbital septum. At first, the orbital septum firmly holds the fat in place.

As time passes, the elasticity of the orbital septum gradually decreases, fat begins to leak out, and the under-eye area becomes bulged. Under-eye fat removal only removes the fat and does nothing to the orbital septum.

If the already stretched orbital septum is left untreated without reinforcement, it can become a reason for under-eye fat recurrence.

That is why at Objet, we carefully perform septum reinforcement so that recurrence does not happen after under-eye fat repositioning, and our patients are very satisfied.

Why you should check the skin elasticity before under-eye fat repositioning

One major factor among the reasons for under-eye fat recurrence is the condition of skin elasticity.

It is best to check the skin elasticity before undergoing under-eye fat repositioning.

Younger patients in their 20s and 30s often have good skin elasticity, so under-eye fat repositioning alone often gives good results. The reason is that their skin elasticity is good. However, for patients in middle age or older, or those without skin elasticity, under-eye fat repositioning alone may not produce sufficient results.

People without skin elasticity sometimes say that after under-eye fat repositioning, the fine wrinkles under the eyes become more noticeable.

When under-eye fat is present, the skin has been stretched because the fat fills it out. If the fat is removed at that time, empty space is created and fine wrinkles appear.

For example, if you blow air into a balloon, it stretches taut, right? But when the air goes out, the once-taut balloon becomes wrinkled. You can think of it in the same way.

If someone with reduced skin elasticity undergoes only under-eye fat repositioning, after surgery the skin may look wrinkled or fine lines may become visible. Right after the procedure, swelling may make this hard to notice, but as time passes and the swelling goes down, they may say the skin looks saggy instead. Some people describe this as under-eye fat recurrence and want to have surgery again.

That is why, during consultations at Objet, we carefully check the elasticity of the patient’s under-eye skin. After examining the elasticity by touch, if the elasticity is too low, we recommend Dual Lower Blepharoplasty, which can improve sagging skin, rather than under-eye fat repositioning.

In particular, patients over 40 are more likely to have reduced skin elasticity, and in such cases, having only under-eye fat repositioning may increase fine wrinkles after surgery.

Therefore, if you have reduced skin elasticity or are in your 40s or older, it is better to consider skin incision to some extent and receive a consultation.

Isn’t under-eye fat repositioning just a simple procedure?

Why is a recovery period necessary?

Surprisingly, many people think under-eye fat repositioning is just a simple procedure. Because they think it is simple, they assume all swelling and bruising will disappear in a day or two.

To properly perform under-eye fat repositioning, an incision is needed inside the conjunctiva. After the incision, wide dissection must be done up to the area above the cheekbone so there is enough space to remove fat and strengthen the septum.

As a result, after under-eye fat repositioning, bruising may appear not only under the eyes but also above the cheekbone. During recovery, swelling and bruising may move downward and spread across the cheek area as well.

This swelling and bruising mostly subside within a week, but because recovery time varies from patient to patient, it is better to allow about two weeks as a buffer.

One more thing I would like to mention is that the incision sites undergo a process where they become hard at first and then gradually soften over time. This process is called scarring, and recovery is only complete after going through it.

However, during the scarring process, the surgical area may feel somewhat hard and tight, so it can be uncomfortable or noticeable. (The incision for under-eye fat repositioning is made inside the conjunctiva, so it is not visible.) Therefore, if you have an important event coming up, we recommend considering the recovery period generously before deciding on surgery.

Under-eye fat repositioning is not simply a surgery to remove protruding fat. It is a delicate procedure that removes excess fat from bulging areas, fills in deficient areas to balance them out, and strengthens the loosened septum.

It is also a surgery that requires consideration of the patient’s under-eye skin and recovery period.

In particular, under-eye fat repositioning can often recur. That is why, before surgery, it is a good idea to learn in detail about the reasons for under-eye fat recurrence that we explained today at Objet, and check what you should be careful about.

If you want satisfying results after under-eye fat repositioning surgery, please keep the three points mentioned today in mind when deciding on surgery.

For more details, if you visit Objet Plastic Surgery and request a consultation, we will explain everything step by step.

Thank you for reading to the end of this long post. This has been Objet Plastic Surgery.

<Video worth watching together>

Consultation and inquiry for under-eye fat repositioning
Phone quick consultation
Kakao simple consultation

• This post is medical information written by Objet Plastic Surgery Clinic in compliance with the Medical Advertising Act.

• Depending on the individual, the effect of the procedure may vary, and side effects may occur.

We strongly recommend that you have 충분한 consultation with the medical staff in advance before deciding on the procedure.